The Regional Committee,

Mindful that a health system consists of all organizations, people and actions intended to promote, restore or maintain health, and that a good health system delivers effective, safe and quality interventions, when and where needed;

Recognizing that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being and that health systems are an important contributor to the realization of that right;

Acknowledging that strengthened health systems contribute to the realization of the right to the highest attainable standard of health and the achievement of global health goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals;

Reaffirming that strong health systems based on the values of primary health care and focused on a vision of providing universal coverage for quality health services can be an efficient and effective way to contribute to improved and equitable health outcomes;

Noting that the values of primary health care to be considered for health systems, as contained in the Western Pacific Regional Strategy for Health Systems Based on the Values of Primary Health Care, include equity, social justice, universality, people-centredness, community protection, participation, scientific soundness, personal responsibility, self-determination and self-reliance;

Further noting that there are existing strategies in the areas of health financing, laboratory services, access to essential medicines, human resources for health, noncommunicable diseases and emerging diseases, and that these are consistent with the Western Pacific Regional Strategy for Health Systems Based on the Values of Primary Health Care;

Recognizing that the Regional Strategy builds upon and is consistent with The World Health Report 2000 — Health Systems: Improving Performance; The World Health Report 2006: Working Together for Health; Everybody's Business: Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Health Outcomes; and The World Health Report 2008 — Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever;

Acknowledging that health systems are complex and diverse and that no single model of health systems strengthening is suitable for all countries and areas,

1. ENDORSES the Western Pacific Regional Strategy for Health Systems Based on the Values of Primary Health Care; [1]

2. URGES Member States:

(1) to commit to the development of strong and robust health systems based on the values of primary health care, leading to universal coverage of quality health services as each Member State defines its own path towards achievement of that vision;

(2) to conduct an ongoing public dialogue on the national vision for their health system and to update health strategies and policies at appropriate times to articulate that vision;

(3) to disseminate, as appropriate, to relevant stakeholders the core elements of the Regional Strategy;

3. REQUESTS the Regional Director:

(1) to provide technical cooperation as requested by Member States to facilitate implementation of the strategy;

(2) to work with Member States to develop and further refine indicators and guidelines for health systems;

(3) to work with Member States in developing methods of health systems performance assessment that are tailored to their specific needs;

(4) to advocate for health systems strengthening based on the values of primary health care and, when appropriate, convene Member States and other stakeholders;

(5) to promote a more integrated health systems approach in WHO's support to Member States;

(6) to report periodically to the Regional Committee on implementation of the strategy.

Fourth meeting
WPR/RC61/SR/4